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'Stinged' Lib Dems insist coalition safe
Source: Agencies |
December 24, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITAIN'S Liberal Democrats said they were fully behind the coalition after four more of their ministers were taped slating their Conservative partners in government.
The disclosures have exacerbated tensions within the coalition and inside the two parties. While the comments have embarrassed both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives who lead the coalition, analysts said there was little chance of them undermining the government.
The most damaging extracts were published on Tuesday which led to senior Lib Dem and Business Secretary Vince Cable being stripped of some regulatory powers after saying he was "declaring war" on News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch.
Lib Dem lawmakers were recorded criticizing senior Conservatives by undercover reporters posing as local voters in a sting operation for the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The paper said yesterday it had recorded David Heath, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, criticizing finance minister George Osborne while local government minister Andrew Stunell cast doubt on Prime Minister David Cameron's sincerity.
"George Osborne has the capacity to get up one's nose, doesn't he?" Heath was quoted as saying.
Stunell reportedly said he did not know where to place Cameron on the "sincerity monitor," while junior health minister Paul Burstow was said to have commented: "I don't want you to trust David Cameron ... in the sense you believe he's suddenly become a cuddly Liberal. Well, he hasn't."
However, whilst acknowledging the embarrassment their comments have caused, the Lib Dem lawmakers insist there is no threat to the government. "What I was trying to say ... was when you join a coalition you don't merge into a single party, you still retain the separate identities," Burstow said.
The disclosures have exacerbated tensions within the coalition and inside the two parties. While the comments have embarrassed both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives who lead the coalition, analysts said there was little chance of them undermining the government.
The most damaging extracts were published on Tuesday which led to senior Lib Dem and Business Secretary Vince Cable being stripped of some regulatory powers after saying he was "declaring war" on News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch.
Lib Dem lawmakers were recorded criticizing senior Conservatives by undercover reporters posing as local voters in a sting operation for the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The paper said yesterday it had recorded David Heath, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, criticizing finance minister George Osborne while local government minister Andrew Stunell cast doubt on Prime Minister David Cameron's sincerity.
"George Osborne has the capacity to get up one's nose, doesn't he?" Heath was quoted as saying.
Stunell reportedly said he did not know where to place Cameron on the "sincerity monitor," while junior health minister Paul Burstow was said to have commented: "I don't want you to trust David Cameron ... in the sense you believe he's suddenly become a cuddly Liberal. Well, he hasn't."
However, whilst acknowledging the embarrassment their comments have caused, the Lib Dem lawmakers insist there is no threat to the government. "What I was trying to say ... was when you join a coalition you don't merge into a single party, you still retain the separate identities," Burstow said.
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